Hyderabad: Chief Minister Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s ‘Congress Mukt Telangana’ campaign is gradually whittling down the main opposition party. This is partly the TPCC’s own making due to their internal squabbles and sulking leaders, if some Congress leaders are to be believed.

The TRS and Congress circles indicate that there could be more desertions ahead of the Lok Sabha elections. Eight Congress MLAs have jumped ship, the latest being the Mahesharam MLA Ms. Sabitha Indra Reddy, the L. B. Nagar MLA Mr. D. Sudhir Reddy, and Mr. Vamana Nageswara Rao from Kothagudem.

There are rumours that claim that the Yellareddy MLA Mr Jajula Surender would join the TRS bandwagon, though senior Congress leader Mohd Ali Shabbir denies it.

Earlier in the day, Mr. Sudhir Reddy had told this newspaper that he hadn’t taken any decision on quitting the party. ‘Two days ago, somebody called me and wanted to meet me. I told them I am busy. That’s all. Right now I am in Apollo hospital for a checkup with family,’ Sudhir Reddy said. However, Mr. Shabbir Ali said, ‘It’s a mind game played by Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao. They(Mr. Sudhir Reddy and Mr. Surender) are not quitting the party.’ Later in the day, Mr. Sudhir Reddy met the TRS Working President Mr. K. T. Rama Rao, and jumped ship.

Every turncoat into the TRS asserts that they were ‘impressed by Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s development strides and want to develop their own constituencies.’ Chief Minister Mr. K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Mr Rama Rao have formed a potent combination and are sending shivers into the opposition camp.

‘It’s Mr. Chandrasekhar Rao’s gameplan to deny the Congress the opposition status in the Assembly. The rule states that 12 MLAs are required to obtain the opposition status. He is successful thanks partly to our own shortcomings,’ a senior Congress leader said.

Congress has lost the opposition status in the Legislative Council after defections to the TRS.

Party sources claim that Ms Sabitha Indra Reddy, Mr Sudhir Reddy, and several other leaders, especially those from the Reddy community, are upset with the party leadership. Some claim that the spirit of Mr. Y S. Rajasekhar Reddy is back and is playing his old games, and this time, he is helping the TRS.

‘Danam Nagender would have stayed back if he was made the TPCC Working President. Sabita is upset over the denial of funds, over the denial of ticket to her son, and over being ignored after the entry of the Chevella MP Mr Konda Vishweshwara Reddy. Sudhir Reddy did not get any credit for organising Rahul Gandhi’s public meeting, Mohd Azharuddin had to seek Priyanka Gandhi’s help to get Rahul Gandhi’s appointment. The list is long,’ said another senior leader.

The appointment of weak AICC secretaries caused another problem. ‘Is it a national party or galli party? Somebody is misleading the AICC President Rahul Gandhi a great deal,’ he added.